[BGood]

Into the creation process of a great album

 

[Doug Gifford]

They were a bit prog for me but they sure could play. I recall in first year music the "intro to music" prof played something of theirs to illustrate compound metre. The were also the first band in a show I saw at the gardens: Gentle Giant • J. Geils • Jefferson Starship. Quite a night!

 

[Sneaky]

Such great musicians. Loved them live.

 

[AJ6stringsting]

Back in 1975, I seen Gentle Giant open for Peter Frampton, I was 10 at the time
They were very unique in their songwriting style !!!!
A great , sadly overlooked band from the Progressive 70's Rock era .

 

[Sneaky]

Guitarist playing a ‘59 Les Paul too. Back then it was probably just a ”used guitar”.

 

[Milkman]

I was and remain a huge Gentle Giant fan.

I still listen to Free Hand, Octopus, The Missing Piece and others often.

Free Hand and Octopus are both brilliant. I love the way they meld Medieval and Baroque elements with rock sounds.

 

[BGood]

It was a crazy era with them, Yes, Crimson, Genesis, Emerson Lake and Powell, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, etc. When Rock Rock&Roll turned progressive.

 

[traynor_garnet]

Power and the Glory is one of my favourite albums from that era of music. The big thing about GG is that they are funky as hell! That really sets them apart from other prog rock bands.

TG

 

[BGood]

Power and the Glory is one of my favourite albums from that era of music. The big thing about GG is that they are funky as hell! That really sets them apart from other prog rock bands.

TG

At the time prog started, they were all very different. I guess you had to be there try to decipher what was going on as it came out. I played bass then, and when I heard Chris Squire of Yes played these complex syncopated riffs, my head couldn't get around it. Ian Anderson with a flute, can't say that didn't set Jethro Tull apart. ELP, no electric guitar, what was that about ? King Crimson with their long mantra like crescendos and a violin on Lark's Tongue in Aspic ... a violin !

The first half of the 70's was just a continuous musical innovation overload. In my late teens early 20's, I was like a sponge, taking it all in.

But yes, Gentle Giant was complexity incarnated.

 

[Mark Brown]

Into the creation process of a great album

That's really slick to hear. Thanks for sharing that. I think all things I try and write from now on might have the lyrics

mama, bap dee bluuu, dee bluuu bap bap.

This sounds like a good approach to laying vocal melodies before having to worry about lyrics and voicing so much.

I gotta sit down with this later! Thanks.

 

[Milkman]

 

[traynor_garnet]

At the time prog started, they were all very different. I guess you had to be there try to decipher what was going on as it came out. I played bass then, and when I heard Chris Squire of Yes played these complex syncopated riffs, my head couldn't get around it. Ian Anderson with a flute, can't say that didn't set Jethro Tull apart. ELP, no electric guitar, what was that about ? King Crimson with their long mantra like crescendos and a violin on Lark's Tongue in Aspic ... a violin !

The first half of the 70's was just a continuous musical innovation overload. In my late teens early 20's, I was like a sponge, taking it all in.

But yes, Gentle Giant was complexity incarnated.

Love KC, Yes is good at times, JT is prog? Lol

GG is funky In a way the others are not.

 

[MFW777]

I'm a huge fan of Gentle Giant and was lucky enough to grab a copy of this this limited edition deluxe box set "Unburied Treasure". All 12 original albums remastered plus 15 unreleased live albums, plus a Blu-ray of the debut album remixed by Stephen Wilson in high-res and 5.1 surround including instrumental mixes. The studio remasters sound amazing and the live ones and outtakes are great to so-so (but historically important - many audience tapes). Also has a beautiful hardcover book, replica tour posters, replica Playing The Fool booklet (originally in the first 10,000 albums) and a signed B&W band promo photo. Oh...and it wouldn't be complete without a puzzle with a missing piece!

 

[BGood]

View attachment 462440

I'm a huge fan of Gentle Giant and was lucky enough to grab a copy of this this limited edition deluxe box set "Unburied Treasure". All 12 original albums remastered plus 15 unreleased live albums, plus a Blu-ray of the debut album remixed by Stephen Wilson in high-res and 5.1 surround including instrumental mixes. The studio remasters sound amazing and the live ones and outtakes are great to so-so (but historically important - many audience tapes). Also has a beautiful hardcover book, replica tour posters, replica Playing The Fool booklet (originally in the first 10,000 albums) and a signed B&W band promo photo. Oh...and it wouldn't be complete without a puzzle with a missing piece!

We now need to come crash to your place for a weekend.

 

[AJ6stringsting]

I like Gentile Giant more than Frank

At the time prog started, they were all very different. I guess you had to be there try to decipher what was going on as it came out. I played bass then, and when I heard Chris Squire of Yes played these complex syncopated riffs, my head couldn't get around it. Ian Anderson with a flute, can't say that didn't set Jethro Tull apart. ELP, no electric guitar, what was that about ? King Crimson with their long mantra like crescendos and a violin on Lark's Tongue in Aspic ... a violin !

The first half of the 70's was just a continuous musical innovation overload. In my late teens early 20's, I was like a sponge, taking it all in.

But yes, Gentle Giant was complexity incarnated.

I liked Gentile Giant more than Frank Zappa . GG had a lot more complex melodies than Frank .
Those arpeggios that the keyboardist did for GG are a lot more complex than Yngwie Malmsteen.

 

[Mark Brown]

I like Gentile Giant more than Frank



I liked Gentile Giant more than Frank Zappa . GG had a lot more complex melodies than Frank .
Those arpeggios that the keyboardist did for GG are a lot more complex than Yngwie Malmsteen.

I have known of the existence of Gentle Giant for... uh, about 18 hours now. In that time, I have come to love them.

I have known of Frank Zappa for over 20 years and still can't figure out what people like about that guy.

 

[AJ6stringsting]

I have known of the existence of Gentle Giant for... uh, about 18 hours now. In that time, I have come to love them.

I have known of Frank Zappa for over 20 years and still can't figure out what people like about that guy.

Frank Zappa used to own some complexes, in North Hollywood, where bands would rehearse . Everyone that had a reputation / steady gigs on the Sunset strip and established bands would rehearse there .
My then bass player went up to Frank Zappa as a fan and he was less than kind to him .... I was blown away by that .... I guess Frank was having a bad day and venting. 🤨